Mechanical toy.



J. B. SHEPPARD.

MECHANICAL TOY. APPLICATION FILED NOV- 16. I9I4.

1,168,829., Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

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MECHANICAL TOY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 18, 1916.

Application filed November 16, 1914. Serial No. 872,472.

, Toys, of which the following isa full, clear,- and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to means for producing a toy representation of a pitcher and batsman in the acts respectively of pitching and batting a miniature baseball.

My invention consists in the combination on a plane representing a baseball field, of two small figures, one representing the player in a game of baseball known as the pitcher, and the other representing the player known as the batsman or batter, with the figure representing the pitcher so devised and operated that upon .the application of a certain and suitable motive power, a small ball representing a baseball will be thrown, pitched or projected from the hand of said figure toward the figure representing the batsman, and the figure representing the batsman so devised and operated that upon the application of the same certain and suitable motive power,the said figure together with his bat will so move that the bat will strike the small ball thrown, pitched or projected from thefigure representing the pitcher, with sufficient force to knock the said small ball a con siderable distance. And my invention comprises the further features hereinafter de- In the drawing, Figure l represents an elevation of a toy containing my invention, the front of the standard or platform of the same being removed to more. fully disclose the features of the operating mechanism. Fig. Qrepresents aplan of the same with the top of the platform'cut away to more fullv disclose the features of the operating mechanism.

In Fig. l, a is the figure representing the pitcher and b is the figure representing the batsman. The right hand 0 of the pitcher is made with a recess or hollow d, of sufficient size and shaped so as to receive and.

hold, while the figurea is at rest, a small belle representing a baseball. The figure. b is made holding a bat f in the conventional attitude of a batsman about to strike at a pitched ball. The figure a has the right arm R attached to it by a tight pin T, so that the arm may be adjusted vertically to project the ball at the proper elevationto meet the bat f of the figure b. The figures a and b are mounted firmly upon posts 9, g

which posts extend and move freely through the top or platform h (Fig. 1) which represents the field upon which the figures a and b are playing, and said posts g, g are stepped into the bottom 2' (Fig. 1) so as to revolve freely therein but so as not to escape or rise therefrom. The figures a and b are so mounted upon the posts 9, g as to be free to turn with said posts, the feet of the figures a and Z2 being clear of the top or platform It.

In the drawing, j and y" represent drums or spools fixed to the posts g, g, and is and It" represent springs of metal or rubber in tension, one end of each of which being wrapped respectively about the drums j, y" in the directions shown and fixed thereto respectively by the pins m and m, the other ends of each of said springs 70, it being fixed respectively to the posts 1 and 1, which posts are'fixed into the platform' It and the bottom 2'. Also, a and n represent springs or fine wires, one end of each of which. being wrapped respectively around the drums or spools 7', j in the directions shown and fixed thereto respectively, by the pins ,0 and 0, the other ends of each of said strings n, a beingwrapped respectively around the drums or spools p and 79 in the directions shown and fixed thereto respectively by the pins 9 and g. The drums or spools p, 7) are devised with arms or projections r and r which arms in turn bear or rest respectively against the pins 8 and s, which pins are fixed into the bottom a. The drums or spools p, p are fixed respectively to the posts 6, 2f which posts are stepped into thetop h and the bottom a so as to revolve freely therein. Further, it represents a drum or spool fixed to a post '2) which post moves freely through the top or platform h and is stepped'into the bottom 2' so as to turn from the same.

form a handle or arm which handle has a knob 3 at the end thereof. The drum or spool'u is devised with arms or projections .2 and z. The arm 2 is at such a height that it willpass over the arm 1 and will strike or meet the arm 7, and the arm a is at such a height thatit will pass under the arm 1*. and strike or meet the arm r, when the drum or spool 91 is turned or revolved by the handle a"- and the knob 3 in the direction shown by the arrow A. The arms 2 and e are placed upon the drum or spool u at an angle with each other, therefore, when the drum or spool u is revolved in the direction shown bythe arrow A. the arm 2 strikes or meets the arm 1" a certain fixed timebefore the arm a strikes or meets the arm 7.

The operation of the'toy is as follows. When noforceor pressure is used against the arms 1', r to move them in the directions shown respectively by the arrows E and E, the springs 70, by pulling respectively upon the sides of the drums or spools j, j inothe directions shown respectively by the arrows B and B, havebrought the arm 0 of the figure a and the bat f or" the figure 7) into the position shown respectively at c and f (Fig. 2). This motion of the drums or spools j, 7" has also drawn respectively the strings n, n in the directions shown respectively by the arrows C and C, and said strmgs a, n being wound respectively about the drums or spools p, p in the direction shown have also turned said drums or spools p, p in the directions shown respectively by the arrows D and D and the arms 7', r

have been moved respectively against the pins 8 and s, andthe said pins 3 and 8 being fixed, prevent further motion of any of the parts of thedevice aflected toward the directions shown respectively by the arrows B, B C, C D, D, and consequently the various parts of the device affectediby the springs 70, 7c are at rest.v V

To setthe toy in motion the knob 3/ is taken hold of by hand and turnd in the direction shown'by the arrow A, the arm 2 then comes in contact with the arm 1' and moves the said arm in the direction shown by the arrow E and consequently the drum or spool p in the direction shown by the arrow F and the string min the direction shown by the arrow G and the drum or spool jin the direction shown by the arrow H and the arm 0 of the figure a into the position shown approximately at 0 '(Fig. '2);

Also, the arm 2 comes in contact with the or spool 79', the string n, the drum or spool jf, are moved in the directions shown respectively by the arrows F,'G and H and consequently the bat f is brought into the position shown approximately at f (Fig. '2). When this part of the operation is being performed the springs k and 7c are being stretched in the directions shown respectively by the arrows P and P and are consequently in higher tension than when the device'was at rest. VVhenthe revolution of the drum or spool u is continued, the end of the arm 2 passes the end of the arm 1" and the spring is pulls'the drum or spool operating the figure aquickly'inthe direction shown by the arrows B, I, C and D, and the arm 0 of the figure a in the direction shown by the arrow J, the motion inthis direction being suddenly stopped by the arm a" meeting the pin 8. The sudden stopping of the arm a of the figure a sends the ball e out of the recess d in the direction of the figure b. After the arm a has passed the arm r and the action above described has taken place, and at a'time determined by the angle with each other of z and a", the arms passes the arm r and the same motion as above deshownby the arrow J at exactly the right time to meet the ball 6 projected from the figure a and the motion in the direction shown is then stopped by the arm r meeting [the pin 8.

/ The angle between the arms a and a is devised so as to allow just enough time to elapse after the motion has been imparted that projects the balle from the figure 1,; to permit of the passage of the ball e over the-distance between the figures a and bbefore the motion is imparted to the bat f of the figureb so that said bat will meet the ball 6. The operation can becontinued indefinitely by replacing the ball in the recess (Z and again turning the handle 00L by the knob y. 7 p YVha't I claimas my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,

1. The combination of a base adapted to support two movabledevices, one adapted as described to hold a ball and ther'oth'er to .ho lda bat, said twodevices separated by an appreciable distance, and adapted as described to mm on their supports, means substantially as set forth in the form of drums, cords and a rotating arm for turning said supports, and provided with limited 'engaging devices adapted as described to dis engage from the actuating means at different predetermined intervals, timed as set forth,

a set forth whereby the bat is adapted to meet a ball projected from the ball holding de vice, means substantially as set forth for turning said supports, and provided With limited engaging devices adapted as described to disengage from the actuating means at different predetermined intervals, timed as set forth, the interval being pro-- portioned to the distance between the figures, and means for reversing the said holding devices.

3. The combination of a base adapted to support two movable devices, one adapted as described to hold a ball'and the other to hold a bat, said tWo devices separated by an appreciable distance, and adapted as described to turn on their supports, means substantially as set -forth for turning said supports and consisting of drums, cords passing,

about them and to the oscillatory figures, en-

gaging arms projecting toward each other,

a rotary tappet provided With crank and engaging arms adapted as set forth to engage the arms of the drums and set and proportioned as set forth whereby they Will pass the ends of said drum arms sequentially, and provided with limited engaging devices adapted as described to disengage from the actuating means at different predetermined intervals, timed as set forth, the interval being proportioned to the distance between i the figures, and means for reversing the said holding devices.

JOHN B. SHEPPARD.

Witnesses:

JosmrrI-I. FITCH, SERENO STETSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,'D. C11 

